Therapeutic comb



Feb. 24, 1931. J. T. WHALEN THERAPEUTIC COMB Filed Nov. 15, 1927 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN T. WHALEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THERAPEUTIC COMB Application filed November 15, 1927. Serial No. 233,400.

This invention relates to combs and has for a principal object the provision of a comb embodying means for applying to the ham or scalp therapeutic materials, tonics or dressings. A further object is to provide a comb which embodies means for absorbing excess oil and which is adapted if so desired to aerate the hair. A still further object is to provide a comb which can be easily cleaned. The

cleaning may be eflected either by means removably attached to the comb or by other means. I 4

It is often necessary to apply medicaments to the hair or scalp and also custom, fashion or necessity has prescribed the application of tonics or gloss giving materials to the hair. Ordinarily, these medicaments or other materials are poured on to the head and rubbed or brushed into the hair or scalp. This meth- 0d of application is wasteful and inetficient.

I have found a simple and eflicient means for applying such medicaments, tonics or glosses which I have embodied in the present invention. This consists essentially in providing means for holding in the comb a renewable absorbent and dispensing element in such manner that it will be partly exposed in the notch es formed by the junction of the teeth with the comb back. This invention may be applied in a number of ways without departing from the spirit thereof. A convenient method of applying the invention is to provide in the back of the comb a cleft extending down below the notches and into this cleft the absorbent or dispensing element, preferably a piece of'felt, may be inserted. A closingelemen't may then be slipped down into the cleft upon the absorbent material and 0 this may be held in place in any suitable manner..

In this construction, the dispensing function may be performed, not only by the means above described but by a reservoir composed of a resilient or expansible material such as a perforations so that it will be applied to the hair through the notches.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the drawings to which reference is now made.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the comb of this invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view partly in elevation taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 shows a fragment on an enlarged scale of the absorbent element detached from the comb or prior to its insertion therein; Fig. 4 shows in side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, the stop or cleft-closing element detached from the comb; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View, partly in elevation, analogous to Fig. 2 to show a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 6 is the same of still another modified form of the invention.

The comb ofthe invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The back, a, is cleft along its entire length so as to form an open receptacle, 0,. which extends below the notches, formed by the junction of the teeth, b, with the back, a.

An absorbent element shown in Fig. 3, may be first saturated with the material to be applied to the hair and then inserted into the cleft c. It is then in such position that the saturated absorbent element protrudes between the teeth for the full length of the comb. This absorbent element consists preferably of a core of wires, e, twisted so as to hold a covering, f, of cotton threads or floss or similar material.

A closing element or stop, shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, at g, is adapted to close the cleft, 0, but not to fill it completely, room being left at the bottom to accommodate the absorbent or dispensing element, f, with which the stop, 9, contacts under gentle pressure. The stop, g, is shown lengthwise in Fig. 4. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the

back is also cleft at 0, so as to be divided into two flexible sides, a and a. The stop, g, is rounded at thev top and the sides, a and a, are formed with bevels Z and Z on their inner opposed sides. The dispensing element, 7, which may be either a strip of absorbent material or a tubular reservoir as hereinabove described is slipped into the cleft, c, the sto g, is then slipped into the cleft upon the a sorbent element, 7'. lrVhen the flexible sides, a and a, are gently squeezed during operation, the bevels, Z and Z, ridebn therounded top of the stop, g, forcing it down on the dispensing element, 7, and thus causing the therapeutic material to exude from the element.

In Fig. 6 the absorbing and dispensing element, 7, is held in place in another manner. The comb is provided with double rows of teeth, b. The element 7, is forced up between these two rows and held in place b friction.

The comb may be constructed 0 any suitable material which owing to its nature lends itself, when shaped according to the configuration shown, to flexibility. As is well known hard rubber or any equivalent material which has heretofore been used for combs may be used in the present invention'and so shaped that the fiexure of the elongated sides a and a will be accomplished easily and without danger of breakage.

While I have illustrated the invention by showing several simple forms in which the same can be applied, I do not limit myself to these particular structures. It will be evident that many other structures may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim .is:

1. A comb comprising a back and teeth; a cleft having flexible sides penetrating said back and teeth to a point below the notch formed by the junction of said teeth with said back; an element adapted to be saturated with fluid materials positioned within said cleft in such a manner that part of said element is exposed between said teeth; a stop also within said cleft and resting uponsaid element; the flexible sides of said cleft and said stop being so arranged in relation to each other that pressure exerted upon said flexible sides will force said, stop down on said element.

2.-A comb having in its back a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and extending own into the teeth and an absorbent body positioned in said groove.

3. A comb having in its back a longitudinal oove with flexible sides and extending down into the teeth, an absorbent body positioned in said groove and means within the groove and coacting with the flexible sides thereof to position the absorbent body.

4. A comb containing a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and in combination therewith an absorbing element so positioned within said comb as to be exposed between said teeth.

5. A comb comprising a back containing a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and extending down into the teeth and an element adapted and arranged to dispense during use a substance with which said element may be saturated.

6. A comb comprising a back containing a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and extending down into the teeth and an element adapted and arranged to dispense during use substances which may be caused to adhere to said element.

7. A comb comprising a back containing a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and extending down into the teeth and provided with dispensing element adapted and arranged to contact with the hair during operation.

8. A comb comprising a back containing a longitudinal groove with flexible sides and extending down into the teeth and provided with an absorbent element adapted and arranged to contact with the hair during operation.

9. The combination in a comb comprising a back containing a longitudinal groove extending down into the teeth, flexible sides, and anelement adapted and arranged to dispense during use substances which may be caused to adhere to said element.

10. A comb comprising a back and teeth, said comb-back having a longitudinal groove open towards the top of said back, said groove also being in communication with the spaces between the teeth; an absorbent body positioned in said groove; and a stop in said groove with its top projecting therefrom, said stop being adapted to be pressed down against the absorbent body.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of November,

JOHN T. WHALEN. 

